Chiang Mai: Airport expansion plans continue despite pandemic

[webfact]

Chiang Mai: Airport expansion plans continue despite pandemic

 

Picture: Chiang Mai News

 

A senior official at Chiang Mai international airport reported to City Hall on the latest developments in the redevelopment and refurbishment of the airport. 

 

The work is carrying on despite the massive hit that the coronavirus pandemic has brought to Thai tourism and the north in particular. 

 

Arrivals at the airport from January 1st to the end of July were 2.5 million and were 60% down. Most of those arrivals were before lockdown in the first few months of the year.

 

The airport hopes to expand to cater to 16.5 million arrivals by 2024 or around twice as many as when the project began in 2018. 

 

Picture: Chiang Mai News

 

It is planned that the number of hourly flights will increase from 24 to around 29-31.

 

Car parking is being expanded by about 50%.

 

A new 70,000 square meter international terminal will cater to 5.3 million arrivals annually. 

 

Picture: Chiang Mai News

 

The existing domestic terminal is being refurbished and improved to cater for 11.2 million arrivals yearly. 

 

There are also plans to improve office areas and catering at the airport.

 

Chiang Mai News reported that 2019 saw overcrowding at the airport. 

 

This is not a problem at the moment due to the pandemic but Nitinai Sasakun reported that the airport will be ready when the pandemic is over and meanwhile it is continuing it is complying with all requirements.

 

Source: Chiang Mai News

 

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[Mavideol]

6 minutes ago, webfact said:

Chiang Mai: Airport expansion plans continue despite pandemic

they need to keep people busy, infrastructure investment is good when country suffers from lack/slow down exports, as usually TAT estimates "" will cater to 5.3 million arrivals annually"" very optimistic

[keith101]

13 minutes ago, webfact said:

The existing domestic terminal is being refurbished and improved to cater for 11.2 million arrivals yearly. 

 

3 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

they need to keep people busy, infrastructure investment is good when country suffers from lack/slow down exports, as usually TAT estimates "" will cater to 5.3 million arrivals annually"" very optimistic

 

[Mavideol]

10 minutes ago, keith101 said:

 

 

new 70,000 square meter international terminal will cater to 5.3 million arrivals annually. 

[JimGant]

After you turn left past Immigration, running adjacent to the airport parking lot, what is that multi story building on the left being constructed? It looks like a tiered parking lot.... If so, will there be some kind of horizontal escalator into the terminal?

[LawrenceN]

4 hours ago, JimGant said:

After you turn left past Immigration, running adjacent to the airport parking lot, what is that multi story building on the left being constructed? It looks like a tiered parking lot.... If so, will there be some kind of horizontal escalator into the terminal?

Shuttle bus, more likely. 

[LawrenceN]

I don't know who can answer this, but here goes. They're planning a new airport out east in Mae On. Why not move the Air Force base out to that land? There's no reason the RTAF base needs to be so close to the city. Moving the airbase would give the airport all the space they need for longer or more runways, more parking, hangars, and utility buildings. 

[Yorkshire Tea]

8 minutes ago, LawrenceN said:

I don't know who can answer this, but here goes. They're planning a new airport out east in Mae On. Why not move the Air Force base out to that land? There's no reason the RTAF base needs to be so close to the city. Moving the airbase would give the airport all the space they need for longer or more runways, more parking, hangars, and utility buildings. 

The proposed site is in Ban Thi, Lamphun, not Mae On.  I don't think it will be built. 

[Burma Bill]

10 minutes ago, LawrenceN said:

I don't know who can answer this, but here goes. They're planning a new airport out east in Mae On. Why not move the Air Force base out to that land? There's no reason the RTAF base needs to be so close to the city. Moving the airbase would give the airport all the space they need for longer or more runways, more parking, hangars, and utility buildings. 

Yes indeed, and what about this project (ref: CAPA - Centre for Aviation)?

 

About

New Chiang Mai Airport is a proposed development to serve the city of Chiang Mai. The new airport is expected to be developed in Lamphun Ban Thi, approximately 25km from the existing Chiang Mai International Airport.

---

May-2018. Airports of Thailand's board approved plans to develop new airports in Phuket and Chiang Mai, requiring approximately THB120 billion (USD3.7 billion) and to be operational by 2025. Chiang Mai's new airport will be located in Lamphun Ban Thi. The airport location is approximately 25km from existing airport.

[spidermike007]

Why? For whom? When? There are so many unanswered questions about the future of Thai tourism. One thing is for sure. The process should be simplified. Anyone, from any nation should be welcome starting tomorrow. If they are willing to support the economy by paying for quarantine, there is no risk, and only upside. 

 

This appears to be extreme timidity on the part of the small and weak men in charge. And it is grossly unfair to the people in tourism. 

 

Also, Thailand is taking alot for granted. They are assuming they will even be remembered once all the delays are over. That is alot to assume these days. Gone, and maybe forgotten?

 

I predict tourism will never return to it's previous levels, in our lifetime here. Caution and prudence are one thing. Inane stupidity and paralyzing fear is another. 

[Captain Monday]

18 hours ago, LawrenceN said:

I don't know who can answer this, but here goes. They're planning a new airport out east in Mae On. Why not move the Air Force base out to that land? There's no reason the RTAF base needs to be so close to the city. Moving the airbase would give the airport all the space they need for longer or more runways, more parking, hangars, and utility buildings. 

The air base is not just the runway and a few aircraft. It is housing, a lake, dormitories, many facilities, a private restaurant I got invited to once, all near the heart of the city on prime land. It will never be moved in our lifetimes. It is possible to consider a second runway but it  actually makes more sense to make a completely new commercial airport in Sankaempaeng (or Lamphun I didn't hear about that site) than move what is essentially a flying club for elites entrusted to protect us from the likes of the lao air force with relatively few takeoffs per day. All during bankers hours. 

Edited August 14, 2020 by Captain Monday

[Redline]

And the toxic smoke that chokes the area more and more, and longer every year.

 

Chaing Mai was not doing well before the pandemic.  If they think them can keep expanding the city without addressing the major pollution, they are delusional.  People don’t go on holiday to a place they need to wear a mask, and their eyes burn, and there is no scenery ????

[sitanonchai]

absolutely, the piles of envelopes are huge now.

[daveAustin]

On 8/14/2020 at 4:01 AM, spidermike007 said:

Why? For whom? When? There are so many unanswered questions about the future of Thai tourism. One thing is for sure. The process should be simplified. Anyone, from any nation should be welcome starting tomorrow. If they are willing to support the economy by paying for quarantine, there is no risk, and only upside. 

 

This appears to be extreme timidity on the part of the small and weak men in charge. And it is grossly unfair to the people in tourism. 

 

Also, Thailand is taking alot for granted. They are assuming they will even be remembered once all the delays are over. That is alot to assume these days. Gone, and maybe forgotten?

 

I predict tourism will never return to it's previous levels, in our lifetime here. Caution and prudence are one thing. Inane stupidity and paralyzing fear is another. 

 

Agree, Mike. Thing is with armies-in-charge (your small and weak men ????), they are not accountable and do not care. 

[clokwise]

Anyone predicting the death of tourism in Thailand need only look back to the Tsunami in 2004. At the time it was considered a unique opportunity to rebuild and finally develop a sustainable tourism infrastructure. Well, how did that turn out? The area recovered faster than expected, and quickly became overdeveloped to a nightmarish degree nobody could have ever anticipated.

That is how Thailand works.

 

So when COVID is over, you can expect tourism to recover at warp speed. But this time, only the strongest and richest will benefit.

[bamboozled]

...Just wondering how all these cars will arrive and depart from the airport. All-call for George Jetson. Can you hear me, George Jetson?